Association of Social Network Factors With Weight Status and Weight Loss Intentions Among Hispanic Adults
Journal of Behavioral Medicine Jun 2019
RHCP surveyed 610 Hispanic adults in Rochester, Minnesota to understand how friends and family influence weight and health habits. They found that people who were overweight or obese often had social circles with similar weight issues. However, it wasn’t just who people knew—it was how those relationships worked. Supportive friends and family who encouraged healthy eating and weight loss made a big difference. People who felt their social circles were trying to lose weight were much more likely to want to lose weight themselves.
The study showed that encouragement, shared goals, and strong social bonds mattered more than the number of people in someone’s network. When participants felt supported and saw others around them making healthy changes, they were more motivated to do the same. These findings suggest that health programs for Hispanic communities could be more effective if they focus on building supportive social environments that promote healthy habits and weight loss.